Seat belts credited with preventing serious injury in 202 collision

Map shows intersection of Spruce Road and Rt. 202. (Google image)

EAST LEBANON - Two Lebanon men were hurt today in a two-vehicle collision just east of Trains Quickstop on Route 202, also known as Carl Broggi Highway.

The crash occurred around 11:20 a.m. when a GMC 3500 truck failed to stop at a stop sign at the corner of Spruce Street and Route 202 and collided with a GMC Sonoma that was headed west toward Rochester, State Trooper Adam Schmidt said today.

The Sonoma was spun around on impact and forced off the south side of the highway, coming to rest at the treeline.

The driver of the Sonoma, 85-year-old Ernest Lizotte, was transported to an area hospital with what were described as nonlife-threatening injuries.

The driver of the GMC 3500, Dean Edge, 35, was treated and released from the scene.

Both men, the lone occupants of their vehicles, were wearing seat belts.

"It could have been a lot worse if they weren't wearing them," Schmidt said.

No citations or summonses were given today, but the investigation into the crash will continue, Schmidt added.